Andrew walked slowly through the halls. Not because he was reluctant to get where he was going. No, he was simply still waking up and had only enough presence of mind to keep himself from running in to things. He really didn't need to be up this early. He could have slept in a little longer, showered, and dressed before heading down for breakfast. However if he'd done that then there would be more people awake. A nice quiet morning was what he was after. He'd get his breakfast then go find a place to throw a few punches. Hygiene and clothes beyond a pair of sleep pants could wait until after.

After nearly stumbling over a few stairs Andrew finally made it to the kitchen and got himself a piece of toast before realizing that he distinctly heard music. Fast piano music infested the quiet morning hours. Who got up this early and forgot to close the door to the music room all the way? He probably wouldn't be hearing it otherwise.

With his toast in hand Andrew was ready to go and tell the person to keep it down. It was far too early for music that fast. Heck it was far too early for music period. He'd probably enjoy it if it were a bit later in the day and he weren't still sleepy. Out into the hallways he went, following the music to the music room. The door hung partially open as he'd thought. It wasn't enough to let him see who it was but it was enough to admit the sounds out into the corridors. He pushed the door further open and let himself in.

Kate had a usual routine of getting up at about midnight for food and then heading back to bed for the rest of the night before getting back up again at about 7. Today however had been different. She had gotten up and eaten as usually and then tried to go back to bed at about one and found she couldn’t she was restless for what seemed like hours unable to push her thoughts from her head and drift back to sleep. All she could think about was The Well-Tempered Clavier and how she couldn’t seem to get it right. The song was fast and it moved. Kate had been working on it for over a week and it still was not perfect. No matter what she tired she couldn’t’ get the tempo right and not miss or mess up a note or two. It was starting to make her thing she was never going to get their required piece down in time for the audition, which was in two weeks.

Kate had decided on an outing with Andrew and Elizabeth a few months ago that she was going to apply and audition for Julliard. She had heard about it from her teacher back in England and when she saw it there in Lincoln Center, she knew that she had to go there. Piano was the only thing that she really truly loved above all others. It was her real escape from the world. When she was sitting at a piano it was just her and it and the music. There was no Kirby Hall to hide behind. She could be in a world of fantasy that even books seemed to be unable to find. The piano was Kate’s one true soul mate.

Kate now leaned, hunched over the keys playing away. She had long since lost posture in her frustration. She was pounding the keys, all lightness lost. She just sat hunched over in her pajamas lost in concentration.

She slipped on one note and slammed down on the keys in frustration before flopping down on them annoyed.

Once the door swung open enough to admit him Andrew walked into the music room. He'd never really been here for anything other than showing it off while greeting. He didn't mind listening to music but making it was another story entirely. He'd leave that to other people. He'd entertained the notion of maybe taking up an instrument back when he'd gone to the Symphony with Kate and Liz. Eventually he'd decided against it. He had a decent thing here.

As he came round the door Andrew finally saw who'd been playing this early. It was Kate. Which might mean she'd just been up all night playing. As he entered she slipped on a note. This resulted in a small fit of temper and some raucous noise from the abused piano keys. Andrew took a bite of his toast and swallowed it before he said anything to the English lady that was now slumped over the keys.

"A little early for piano practice isn't it?"

Andrew wandered over to the piano and leaned against it, taking another bite of his toast. He was waking up now. He didn't feel nearly so tired or grumpy. Kate on the other hand looked like she needed to get some sleep. He didn't know a thing about piano but practicing until exhaustion didn't seem like the best way to get a piece of music right.

>>A little early for piano practice isn't it?

Kate gasped and looked up, surprised that there was anyone behind her. She watched as Andrew moved over to her and leaned on the open piano. She noticed that he was shirtless, but was too tired and frustrated to care let alone blush. If this had been any other day she would have looked away in shame at seeing such a site but she had been so concentrated on her memorizing all 6 of her pieces that she had no time to really worry or think about something else. This audition and her need to be perfect at it was really starting to consume her life.

“What time is it?” looking around the room Kate noticed for the first time that it was starting to become light out.

She'd been so absorbed in her playing that she hadn't noticed the time. Andrew just shook his head.

"About five a.m. last I saw a clock. Have you been here all night?"

He'd obviously surprised her but it wasn't in him to apologize for it at the moment. Maybe once he'd woken up a bit more. He took another bite of the toast he'd brought with him.

It really wouldn't surprise him if she'd been here all night. It seemed like something Kate would do. That didn't make it a wise thing to do but it did seem like some that she would do.

>>About five a.m. last I saw a clock. Have you been here all night?

“It would appear so yes.” Kate suddenly felt very tired at the realization of the time, “I couldn’t’ sleep and was hoping this would help, but I seem to have lost myself in the piece.”

Kate’s eyes felt droopy and she covered her mouth as she yawned widely in the new found tiredness. She wasn’t really supposed to go without sleep, in a way this made her very dangerous right now. The shell that was her body was always at its weakest when she was tired. Who knew how long it would be before she had an accident at this state of tiredness. She really had to get up to her room and get to bed. Her teachers would understand wouldn’t they?

“I really should try and sleep.” Kate started packing up and stood but fell backwards back into the bench.